Folding umbrella



Nov. 16, 1943. B. J'ANOWSKY 2,334,330

FOLDING UMBRELLA Filed April 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -50 Be n13. min j f M y/w/e SINOHMM Nov. 16, 1943. B, JAmwsKv I 2,334,330

FOLDING UMBRELLA Filed April 3, 1941 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR.

" Benjamin Janozwky,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 2 I h FOLDING UMBRE L Benjamin J anowsky, New YorlnN. Y. Application April 3, 1941', SerialNO. 386,578 j V 15 Claims. (criesacy 1 My invention relates to an improved folding umbrella or parasol; designed to occupy a comparatively small amount of space so that it can very conveniently be packed and carried about when not in use. a

An object of the invention is to makethe device with both ribs andhandle constructed of relatively small movable parts to enable the entire article, to' be folded and contracted 'within a relatively moderate compass, and permit the ownerto put it away in a trunk or bag, or a pocket inhis clothing, or to carry itin his hand; and to be distended at will to spread and stretch the top'in the proper manner when needed for protection against the weather. l

A further object of the invention is to form the handle for the umbrellaout of a number of telescoping sections to allowit to be readilyshortened or drawn out to its full length as may be required. 1 l

Still another object is to provide collapsible ribs for the umbrella or parasol such that they can be extendedto spread the top without forcing the cloth into protuberances, and give instead a smooth and even surface. j

An additional object is to provide a folding umbrella that can be easily manipulated, with-the parts thereof few in number, accessible and certain in operation, and the entire assembly capable of production at low cost, so that it can be put on the market and sold at a price Within reach of the popular purse.

It is also an object of this invention to provide arib that can easily be distended when. the umbrella is raised, and shortened when the umbrella is lowered; and comprising members having telescopic engagement with one another, adapted to impart a smoothupper edge to the rib. The cloth cover of the umbrella, when spread out by the ribs, willthere fore be smooth and even; with no projection anywhere upon its outer surface.

1 showing the, umbrella; or: parasol completely 2 folded; l p 1 Figure shows a detail of the handle; Figure 6 isasection on line 6 6 of Figure 5;

t Figure ,7 is a side =viewof parts for securing the ribs to the handle, with the lower end of this view insection;

- Figure Sshows in top plan. one of said parts;

These and other objects of the invention are principle of the invention, or exceedingthe scope of same.

On the drawingsz a p i Figure 1 shows in side elevation theconstruction of a rib employed in an umbrella or parasol according to my invention, with the handle attached; a

Figure 2'is a top plan of said rib extended;

K Figure 3 shows the same rib partly collapsed; Figure 4 is an outside view partly section Figure 9 is a side view of the handle;

Figure 10 is a sectional-view of a,modii icatioh of said handle with enclosed spring;

Figure 1 1 is a view of a difierent fOrm of rib according to my invention, fully, extended;. 7 l H Figure 12 shows this rib partly collapsed; Figure 13 shows this rib fully collaps ed;

Figure 14.shows the members comprised in-said rib to make the upper edge smooth and even; and

Figure 15 presents a detail. I I, The same charactersof reference indicate the same parts throughout, l

The parasol orurnbrella includes a telescoping handle I withcollapsible ribs 2 united thereto; and a top of silk or any other material. Preferably, materia1 adapted to shed Water ..will be used. When the umbrella. isto. be opened the ribsr are caused to extend out radially from the handle-to spread the top; and when the um,- brella or parasol is to be'folded up, the ribs are shortened by moving their parts, which are pinned together, and drawing same in towards the handle; which, comprises telescoping sections movable one into the other to give the like result. The ribs 2 are voffspeeial design, and when distended, they spread the top. 3 evenly, so that it is smooth "and does notdiffeninloutside appear...

ance from the conventional umbrella; Thisef feet is obtained by fashioning the ribs, as fully described below, in such: wisetliat the upper'edge of each rib, Whendistendied, presents a'smooth convex curved line,,without projections or humps of anykind to render it unattractive to the eye; .Each rib comprises a numberof bars or. sections, the inner'most bar 4, beijngoonnected to the handle I. These bars are shown as four in number, indicated by the numerals 5, B and l, the last being at theouter end of the rib. Passing fromthe handle to the circumference ofithe top ,3; each bar has pin-andfslot connection with the next outer one. The bars 5, 6 and I have lfongi-f tudinal slots 8, andthe numeral 9 indicates pins for Joining the outer ends of the bars 4, 5 and 6 totheslots in the bars 5, Gand"! respectively, Thes'e'pins engage the slots; and when therib is extended, the outer ends of the bars 4, 5 and 6 will be joined respectively to the inner endsof the bars 5, 6 and l. The topofthe barsl, 5, Sand 1 v are curved; and when they spread the top 3,, the

ribs slope downward to the required extent.

.Figures 1 and Z show the rib'in its extended position, with thebars 4, 5, 6 and'ljin alinement;

while Figure 3 shows the rib with its parts in the position they assume when the rib is being spread out or folded up. The bars are actuated by links connected to work upon the principle of the lazy tongs. These '-links' are disposed in pairs',.'shownr at Ia-I1lb;- I I a-4 lb, and I2a- I'2'b';hthe links of each pair being joined together near the center by pivot pin I3. The upper extremity of the handle I has a fixed collar l4, and associated therewith is a similar collar I5, mounted'to slide on the handle I. The upper endof the link I0b is united to the collar I4, and the lower end of the link Illa is pivotally united to thecollar I5.'- Each collar has a groove therein, as shown at I6, and in the groove is a band or wire II, that passes through'apertures-v in the ends of the links Illa-I01) so that the links are pivotally attached to the collars, I4} and I5.- Thlinn'ermost bar 4 hasa perforated lug l 8 on itsloweredge adjacent its inner end; and the-link I'llb is "pivotally securedby a pin I 9 toth'islug nearthepoint where the link is joined to the collar I4 on the'handle I-.

The pivot pins which connect the'p'airs o'flinks together at their-ends are indicated' at 2'0. The links llla'and I 017' ere onneaea by two such pivot pins to the adjacent'ends "of the links Nb and 'I la respectively; and the opposite ends of the links I la and I'll) are similarly joined to t heinnere'r' ds of the 1ast'or outerinostpair of links lib-and I2a. Also the' pin 20 'whichunites the upper ends of theli'nks IIl'aL' -and I I b to each other engages the inner end of th'e-bar5'; and the 28 which joins the links I la and IZbconnects with the innerend of the bar 6. Similarly'the end of the'lin'k I2a which is not joined to the link IjIb is pivotedby a pin 20 to the inner'end of'the barl. "The pin I9 is relatively long 'and' 'rna'y carrya s'pa'cin'g sleeve 21 on'it between the bar land the link Iflb, and'the, pins'20 which pivotally connect theup per ends of the liI'ikswith the bar's '5; Band "I bear "shorter spacing "sleeves 22. A short "link 23 is pivotally pinned fat? 20 to the'l'ow'er end ofthe IinikIZb and tothebutermostbar 'I atthe proper distance from the inner end of this bar where it isjo'i'ne'd to the link 1211'. Thepin 20 last mentioned hoes not interfere with: the movement of the pin 9, of the'barfi in the slot 8 of the bar I;

' With thisai'rang'ement df'sparts, one has only to nibvethe'collanl5 towards'the collar I4 'to distendth'e links and carry the barsj4, am; '6 "and 1 into 'alihemcnft; as illustrated in Figures l and'2; or in the, opposite direction to bring the rib into collapsed position as'in' Figure '4; When the ribs are extended, the outward movement ofithe links swings the bars 5,,Iiiand I outward .a'ndupward, carrying with t'l'ie'rn the jbjar 4' away' from the handle ,I asillustrated in Figure 3. Wh'entherib is. fully di'stendedythe top 3 is' spread out .and

stretched evenlylwith no humps or protuberance's onits upper surface; and, the top 3' is as smooth ,aS-lIi an umbreuaor the sua construction. The top may be fastened at its center to thejupper end offlthe handle I, ariuat its circumference to thetopsl24 onfthe' outer bars I; and if desired, atijon'e' or more points to the inner ends of the ba'rsl5, 6j and]. The fully closed position of the arasoiior umbr n panddts ribs is indicated in Figu're l.v

The handlecornpri's'es an upper tubular section 25;the end of which bears a' cap 26 which is integral with the'fi'xed collar I4. This cap has a tip 21 which passes through an aperture in the top 3, and an ornamental-cap ring ortbutto'n 28' may beaffi'iied to the tip. to grip theftopbetw'eenit and the collar I4; thus anchoring the top at its center.

the section 25.

At 29 in a sleeve bearing the slidable collar I5 on This section has a slot 30, in which is a catch 3!. The catch is fixed at one end 32 to the outside of the section at one end of the slot 30, and its other end. 33 is=f ree, but is disposed withsthe adjacent end of the slot 30. Thus the free end of the catch can move in and 3 ,out of the slot 38. Between the ends, the catch collar I4, to distend the umbrella, the collar I5 passes the shoulder 34, and the catch yields until the shoulder gets beneath the collar I5, when it springs out and the shoulder 34 then prevents the I collar I5 from moving downward. Hence the umbrella is held in distended position- The-remain ng-"telescoping sections of the'han'dlelare shown atl35; 36-and 37," all being tubular, andathe last bearing a knob 38. These sections canz all be telescoped into one another, the section-31 first 7 moving into the section 36, and-both these-secti'ons ritothe-se'c'ti'on 35, and all three into the upper-and largest section 25. The three'fsections -25; 35 and36 also have elongated slotsi39. These longitudinal slots-in the sections' o'f the handle are all offset at with 'a recess M in the'offset part, and theinn'er ends of thesections 35,-36 and 37 are equipped with studs'42, so thatlthey can not be pulled apart. -When-the handle is ex' tended, the sections are drawn out tillthe studs of each comes into registry withtheoffsetariart of the-slot of-the adjacent section and then each section -is 't'urnedto make its studs 'enterthe offset end 40 of the slot andforced intothe -recess 4| thereof. Then the handle will support the top 3 and all of the ribs I. To collapse and shorten thehandle, each Section is pulled'o'ut-slightlyto disengage 'i'tsstudIf-r'Om the recess AL-and then turned to carry the stud into line 'with the length of the slots 39. The sections can then be pushed into one'anotherasabove set forth.

The'colla'rs ma d I5 have flanges til-forming the sides of "the gifooves'lli-therein, and these flanges have cuts or' recesses 44" to receive the inner ends of the links IIla 'a'nd I31) of the ribs, these recesses being not radial -in'-'d'irection, but slightly diagonal. i i Thetop 3 has a tie band I'I fast toa button on the top 3 at one end, 'andhaving a ring at the other end. When the umbrella is folded as in Figure 4, the cloth=of-=the top' is made smooth as possible, and then theband' 41 can be passed around the umbrella-and the ring GT-slipped over'the button "48 to hold the band in encircling fposition. "The-umbrella canthen easily he slipped into a suitable cover. 'Th'e loop 50 may be attached to the knob 38 on the'handle ifdesired, I p I may also provide the knob 38 with a flange r-rim to envelop the ends of the 'sections"2'5; 35 and"36, it these protrude to any extent 'beyond th'e sleeve 29, in the position shown in Figure er The'umbrella thus consists of relatively-few parts, and is quite simple in construction and easyto' manipulate when it is either to be folded or opened. When entirely collapsed it can be packed in a trunk, Valise or ordinary hand-bag; or put away in the owners pocket To make it ready for use is the work-off a'moment'fiasall that one'needs to do is'to draw outthe secti'ons of the handle and then slip-the collar I5-u'p over the catch 3| to extend the ribs and spread-the top 3 When spread and stretched, the top is quite 'smoqth on its up'p'r surface, with-negroje'ctions which might otherwise give the mn make the ribs extend in a nearly radial direction from the handle I. I

The location of the pins I3 in the links is such that these pinsare slightly farther from the pins 20 joining them to the bars 4, 5, 6 and 1 than to the pins 20 at the opposite ends of the links. Hence the ribs curve downward when distended.

In Figure 10 the handle is shown with a. tension spring 59 inside. The collar I4 is fixed to a sleeve 26a, closed by a cap 5| or button to which is attached a cast-in anchor 52 in the section, 25. To this anchor isamxed one end of the spring 53, joined at its opposite end to a pin 54 in the knob 38, at the end of the section 31.

The spring thus extends fromend to end of the handle. Y it does not interfere with the telescoping of the sections 25, 35, 36 and 31. When the sections are distended the spring stretchesrand serves to pull back and'hold' the pins 42 in the notches M,

to grip .the handle at full length. N

Around the sleeve 2i is'wrapped aspring' 55,

It is light and of many turns, so that Slots 44 in I through the open lower faces of same.

engaging at itsends the links Illa and I91), and

tending normally to distend the rib. These springs 2| make the opening of the umbrella easier when thecollar I5 is pushed towards the collar I4.

The construction of the ribs permits the umbrella to be in different sizes without increasing the number of difierent parts. That is, the links Illa, Illb, Ila, IIZJLIZG, and I2?) are all' of the same size; and for a larger umbrella with longer ribs, more links are included; and another slotted bar may be added. Hence a large number of parts of differentsizesgare not needed, as they would be. if the links were of diiferent lengths. Of course the number of links can be varied to alter the length'of the rib and the number of sections in thehandle can likewise be changed. I

In the rib' presented in Figs. 11 to, 15 inclusive, the links Illa, Iflb, Ila, Ilb, IZaand I21) are ar ranged and connected as beforeybeing united to the rod I by the fixed collar I4 and 'slidable collar I5; butthe slotted barsor sections 4, 5, 6 and I are replaced by the parts. 58, 59,59 and 6?; the last-named being like the other links and pinned at itsupper end to the upper end of the link Ilia, andpivotally connected at its midpoint by the short link 23 to the lowerend of the link I217. The parts or bars 59, 59 and BI! are slidably connected together and are anchored to the rod I by a fixed collar or rounded element Ma, like the collar I4, but larger, and on top of the latter.

The members or sections 58, 59 and till, in conjunction with the outermost link ill, give each rib a continuous top. or upper edge. In Figure 14 these members or bars are shown as square in cross section; but they may be wholly or partly rounded, or otherwise shaped in cross section; and they areiof such thickness that they telescope one within another in the reverse of the order named. Each bar 58 has a perforated projection 6| for attachment to the collar or element Ma, which has a groove I6 in its rim tion 61, and begin to pull the bars out.

andrecesses 44 at as many places asthere are to be ribs,"to receive the lugs or projections 61. A

wire 'I'I"pa'ssing through the lugs BI and lying in the groove, with its ends united, keeps all the lugs 6I connected withthe element Ma, and in the same way as ribs Illa and Illb are connected to the elements or collars I4 and I5.

Thebars 58, 59 and 60 are channel-shaped on their lower" faces, so that the adjacent pinned ends of the links Illb and '-IIb, Ila and I2b, IZa-and 61 can be received therein. The bar 58 has lugs 62 at its outer end, projecting towards each other from the'lower edges of the sides; and the bar 59 has-lugs 63 at its adjacent end, projecting downward from its sides; so that,when the bar 59' is inside the bar 58, the outward movement of the bar 59 will be arrested by said lugs before the bars can come apart. A similar arrangement of lugs 62 and 63 at the outer and innerends respectively of the bars'59 and 6!! prevents full separation of these two, when the bar 60 is farthest from the rod I.

The hinged ends of the ribs Illa and Ill), Ila and I2b, I2a and 61, adjacent these bars, have washers 64, held against the outside of'the links by the pivot pins 29; and the thickness of the links and washers is such that these ends can enter and withdraw from the bars 58 and 59 r The remaining, bar 60, however, has internal ribs 65 extending along the lower edges; far enoughapart to allow movementof the ends of two links along this bar between the ribs,but=close enough to engage the washers 64 thereon and prevent withdrawal. Thepinned ends of the links I 2a andGI are inserted into this bar through one extremity tion 68' to engage the bar 59,'when it is pushed movedtogether'into the bar 58.

' With the ribs collapsed'asin Figure 13, the umbrella can be. raised by pushing the collar I5- to wards the partiI l: The outward movement of the links causes the connected ends of the links I2a and 67m the bar 60 to swing the three bars, now telescoped together, away from the rod I. When the bars are actuated to a sufficient extent, the same ends of these two links slide forward in the bar 69, between the ribs 65, strike the projec- This pulling out continues as the lugs63 and 62 on the bars 59 and 60 engage each other; and is terminated when the lugs 63 on the bar 59 strike against the lugs 62 on the bar 58. i As the bars areextended, the adjacent ends of the links Ila and 12b, Illb and Nb enter the grooves in the into the latter; so that'these two bars can be bars 58 and 59; and in full operative position,

the bars 58, 59 and 69 come into alinement and impart a smooth upper'edge to each rib. This edge is continued by the rib 61, which'is set at a slight angle, so that the hem or rim of the cloth cover (not shown), which is secured to the upper edge of the ribs, will drop slightly; giving the umbrellaa better appearance.

To lower the umbrella, the collar I5 is pulled away from the-elements I4 and lfla. The link parts arefthen collapsed. As the united ends'of the links IZa and 51 slide into the bar 60, they eventually hit the projection 66 and impel this bar into the bar 59. When the projection 68 strikes the outerend of the bar 59, the latter is forced into the bar 58. At the finalstase f folds n the unite e ds o the links b and M I la and lZb may be disengaged entirely from the bars, as shown in Figure 12-; and the rib is completely collapsed, with the link fi'lsnugly housed in the outer bar-69. When the ribs are expanded again, the said ends of the four, links, with'the washers 64, easily enter thebars 5,8 and. 59, as soon as the'member 60 moves out far enough; and the whole upper edge of the rib is thus capped and lined by the members 58, 59 and 60, when they reach the positions indicated on Figure 11. All the ribs of the umbrella of course act in opening and closing in the same way as the one here .described The invention thus embraces only a few and easily made parts and can be quickly assembled. The operation is certain, and the finished device is not liable toget out of order.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A folding umbrella comprising an extensible rib having .parts having slidable hinged connections and movable into alinement when distended to present a smooth curved edge t engage the underside of the top.

sible rib having a plurality of slotted bars movable into line with each other to present a smooth curved convex edge to the underside of the top, when the rib is extended; 7

3. A folding umbrellacomprising an extensible rib having a plurality of slotted bars, with hinged connections through the slotted portions and links connected to the bars and toone another in lazy tongs arrangement to move the bars into alinement when the rib is extended made up of telescoping sections, one of said sections bearing a fixed collar and a sliding collar, extensible and collapsible ribs pivotally attached to said collars, each rib including bars having pin-and-slot engagement with one another, and links arranged in, pairs and pivotally joined near their centers, the innermost links being pivotally attached to said collars, said links being all of the same size except the outermost, which is relatively short, said links all being connected "at one end thereof to one of said bars, and be- :1

ing arranged in lazy-tongs fashion to move said bars into and out of alinement to extend and collapse the ribs, the "bars when actuated into alinement presenting a smooth upper edge to each rib.

6. A folding umbrella comprising a handle of telescoping sections having means for engaging each other to prevent collapse when the sections are distended, the sections telescopically engaging one within the other, and a tension spring in the handle to hold said means in operative position.

tended, into alinement along the upper edge of a the rib.

s. In a folding umbrella having a central rod,

a rib connected to said rod at one end, said rib comprising links disposed in lazy-tongs arrangement to extend and shorten the rib, and telescoping members, one of which is united to said rod, connected to said links to be actuated when the rib, is lengthened, into alinement along the upper edge of the rib. I a Q 9. The rib according to claim '7, wherein some of the parts of the rib are movably joined to one of said members.

10. The ribaccording to claim 8, wherein one of said members is movably attached to some 'of said links. 1

11. A folding umbrella having a central rod, a pair of rounded elements fixed thereon, a sliding collar on said rod,-and.an extensible rib having pivotally united parts and slidably connected members, some of said parts and members being connected at one end to said element and said collar. 4

12. A folding umbrella having a central rod, a

and telescoping members one of which is hinged to the larger element and another engaged by some of said links.

13. A rib for a folding umbrella comprisinglinks in connected relation and telescoping members which, when the rib is distended, act

with the outermost linkto form therewith the upperedge of the rib.

14. A rib for a folding umbrellafconnected to a central rod having a sliding collar thereon and comprising links in lazy-tongs relation connected to a fixed part and to said sliding collar, telescoping members having hinged connection with said rod adjacent said part, said members having arresting lugs to prevent separation when extended and being open on their lower. faces, the member farthest from the rod when the links are distended having an internal lug at each end, and inturned ribs along its sides to retain the ends of some of said links slidably within same, said member alsohaving an external lug to engage the adjacent member when said members are retracted.

15. A folding umbrella comprising an extensible rib havinga plurality of slotted bars movable into line with each other to present a continuous edge to the underside of e the top when i sible ribhaving a plurality of connected'slotted BENJAMIN JANOWSKY'. 

